Read Ebook: Memoirs of the Generals Commodores and other Commanders who distinguished themselves in the American army and navy during the wars of the Revolution and 1812 and who were presented with medals by Congress for their gallant services by Wyatt Thomas

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Washington, at this time, proceeded by slow and easy marches to the Highlands of the Hudson.

It was his intention to fortify West Point, and the Highlands of the North River; accordingly the works at Stony and Verplanck's Points were commenced for that purpose, yet only on Verplanck's a small but strong work had been completed and garrisoned by seventy men, under Captain Armstrong, while the works on Stony Point, of much greater extent and of incomparably more importance, were unfinished. To secure these valuable positions was a matter of great magnitude both to the British as well as American commander-in-chief; hence was the determination of fortifying the Highlands, so as to comprehend within it these important positions. To arrest the progress of these fortifications, Sir Henry Clinton sailed with a fleet up the Hudson, and landed his troops in two divisions; the one under General Vaughan, destined against the works at Verplanck's on the east side of the river--the other, which he commanded in person, against those of Stony Point, on the west side. The fortifications on Stony Point being unfinished, were abandoned without resistance, on the approach of the enemy, who instantly commenced dragging some heavy cannon and mortars to the summit of the hill, and on the next morning about sunrise opened a battery on Fort Fayette, erected on Verplanck's, the distance across being about one thousand yards.

There is nothing in the annals of war which affords more room for surprise, and seems less to be accounted for, than the prodigious disparity between the numbers slain in those different actions, which seem otherwise similar or greatly to correspond in their principal circumstances, nature and magnitude. Nothing could well be supposed, from its nature and circumstances, more bloody, in proportion to the numbers engaged, than this action; and yet the loss on both sides was exceedingly moderate.

Nothing could exceed the triumph of America and Americans generally, upon the success of this enterprize, and the vigor and spirit with which it was conducted.

It must, indeed, be acknowledged, that considered in all its parts and difficulties, it would have done honor to the most veteran soldiers. General Washington, the Congress, the General Assembly, and the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, were emulous in their acknowledgments, and in the praises which they bestowed upon General Wayne, his officers and troops. In these they particularly applaud the humanity and clemency shown to the vanquished, when, by the laws of war, and stimulated by resentment from the remembrance of former cruelty received from the British, they would have been justified in putting the whole garrison to the sword.

As soon as Stony Point was taken, the artillery was directly turned against Verplanck's, and a furious cannonade ensued which necessarily obliged the shipping at the latter place to cut their cables and fall down the river. The news of this disaster, and of Webster's situation, who also expected an immediate attack on the land side, no sooner reached Sir Harry Clinton, than he took the most speedy measures for the relief of Verplanck's. The whole British land and naval force was in motion. But, however great the importance or value of Stony Point and Verplanck's, Washington was by no means disposed to hazard a general engagement on their account; more especially in a situation where the command of the river would afford such decisive advantages to his enemy in the disposition and sudden movement of their troops, whether with respect to the immediate point of action, or to the seizing of the passes, and cutting off the retreat of his army, as might probably be attended with the most fatal consequences.

In his letter to Congress, he says, that it had been previously determined in council not to attempt keeping that post, and that nothing more was originally intended than the destruction of the works and seizing the artillery and stores. This adventurous and daring feat kept the advanced posts of the British in a state of serious alarm.

In May, 1780, Wayne was ordered to repair to the camp at Morristown, and resume his command in the Pennsylvania line. Little more than useless marches, and casual skirmishes with the enemy was accomplished during this year.

In November of the same year Wayne appears before his government supplicating supplies for his soldiers. This he accomplished, and returned in December to his winter quarters at Morristown, where he remained till the end of February, 1781. Receiving orders to join the southern army under General Greene, now in Virginia, Wayne accordingly commenced collecting his troops; but, from so many and unaccountable delays, it was May before he could concentrate them at York, Pennsylvania. Early in June the Pennsylvania troops, eleven hundred in number, formed a junction with Lafayette, whom they met in Virginia, and determined at once to march against Cornwallis, who was now retreating. Lafayette held a position about twenty miles in the rear of the British, whilst the advanced corps of Wayne kept within eight or nine miles, with the intention of commencing an attack on the rear guard, after the main body should have passed the river. Lafayette, having received intelligence that the enemy were preparing to cross the James river, he immediately took a position at Chickahominy church, eight miles above Jamestown. Early the following morning, Wayne believing that the main army of the British had effected its passage, was determined to march forward and attack the rear guard; but upon arriving within sight he found he was mistaken, and that he had now to confront the whole British force with only five hundred men; the only safe mode which he could now calculate upon, was that of attacking vigorously and retreating precipitately. "For," said he, "moments decide the fate of battles," and accordingly the firing was commenced with great firmness at three o'clock, and continued till five in the afternoon.

In this severe but gallant action one hundred and eight of the Continental troops were killed, wounded and taken; most of the officers were severely wounded, and many of the field officers had their horses killed under them. Lafayette, in his official notice of this action, says--"From every account the enemy's loss has been very great, and much pains taken to conceal it."

In a letter from General Washington to Wayne, he adds:--"The Marquis Lafayette speaks in the handsomest manner of your own behavior, and that of the troops, in the action at Green Spring. I think the account which Lord Cornwallis will be obliged to render of the state of southern affairs, will not be very pleasing to ministerial eyes and ears, especially after what appears to have been their expectations by their intercepted letters of March last. I am in hopes that Virginia will be soon, if not before this time, so far relieved as to permit you to march to the succor of General Greene, who, with a handful of men, has done more than could possibly have been expected; should he be enabled to maintain his advantage in the Carolinas and Georgia, it cannot fail of having the most important political consequences in Europe." The movements of Cornwallis indicated a permanent post at Yorktown, a short distance up the York river, where he had removed the principal part of his forces, and commenced his fortifications. Washington hearing of this movement, commanded Lafayette to take early measures to intercept the retreat of Cornwallis, should he discover the intended blow, and attempt a retreat by North Carolina.

At the interposition of the Marquis Lafayette with his government, a French fleet, consisting of three thousand troops, were equipped and dispatched to the assistance of struggling America; and on the 2d September landed at Burwell's Ferry, near this place. Lafayette, who was encamped about ten miles from General Wayne, on hearing of the arrival of the French fleet, requested an interview with him. In a letter to a friend, Wayne describes an accident that occurred to him on his way thither:--"After the landing of the French fleet, and pointing out to them the most proper position for their encampment, I received an express from the Marquis Lafayette, to meet him on business of importance that evening. I proceeded accordingly, attended by two gentlemen and a servant. When we arrived in the vicinity of the camp, about ten o'clock at night, we were challenged by a sentry, and we made the usual answer, but the poor fellow being panic-struck, mistook us for the enemy, and shot me in the centre of the left thigh; then fled and alarmed the camp. Fortunately, the ball only grazed the bone, and lodged on the opposite side to which it entered." The main works of Cornwallis were at his strongly fortified garrison at Yorktown, on the York river. He also occupied Gloucester, on the opposite side, where he erected works to keep up the communication with the country. General Washington reached the neighborhood of this interesting scene of operation on the 14th of September, and immediately proceeded on board the Ville de Paris, where the plan of the siege was concerted.

Subjoined is an extract of General Wayne's diary of the siege of Yorktown and capture of Lord Cornwallis:

"On the 28th of September, 1781, General Washington put the combined army in motion, at five o'clock in the morning, in two columns, and arrived in view of the enemy's lines at York about four o'clock in the afternoon.

"29th. Completed the investiture. The enemy abandoned their advanced chain of works this evening, leaving two redoubts perfect within cannon-shot of their principal fortifications.

"30th. The allied troops took possession of the ground vacated by the British, and added new works.

"1st October. The enemy discovering our works commenced a cannonade, continuing through the day and night with very little effect.

"2d. Two men killed by the enemy's fire.

"3d. A drop-shot from the British killed four men from the covering party.

"4th. The redoubts were perfected; the enemy's fire languid.

"5th. Two men killed by rocket-shot.

"6th. Six regiments, viz., one from the right of each brigade marched at six o'clock, P. M., under the command of Major General Lincoln and Brigadier Generals Clinton and Wayne, and opened the first parallel within five hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's works and their extreme left, which was continued by the French to the extreme right.

"7th. The parallel nearly complete, without any opposition, except a little scattered fire of musketry, and a feeble fire of artillery, by which a few of the French troops were wounded and one officer lost his leg.

"8th. Completed the first parallel; two of the Pennsylvanians were killed by rocket-shot.

"9th. At three o'clock P. M., the French opened a twelve gun battery on the extreme right of the enemy; and at five o'clock the same day, a battery of ten pieces was opened on their extreme left, by the Americans, with apparent effect.

"10th. At daybreak three more batteries were opened, opposite the centre of the British works; at five P. M., another American battery of two ten inch howitzers was also opened, which produced so severe a fire, that it in a great degree silenced that of the enemy; at seven o'clock P. M., the Caron, of forty-four guns, was set on fire by our balls and totally consumed.

"11th. Second parallel opened this night by the Pennsylvanians and Marylanders, covered by two battalions under General Wayne, on the part of the Americans.

"12th. Nothing material.

"13th. That part of the second parallel which was opened, nearly completed.

"14th. A little after dark, two detached redoubts belonging to the enemy were stormed; that on the extreme left by the light infantry, under the Marquis Lafayette, in which were taken a major, captain, and one subaltern, seventeen privates, and eight rank and file killed.

"Our army lost, in killed and wounded, forty-one. The other was carried by the French, under the Baron de Viominial, who lost, in killed and wounded, about one hundred men. Of the enemy eighteen were killed, and three officers and thirty-nine privates were made prisoners. The above attacks were supported by two battalions of the Pennsylvanians, under General Wayne; whilst the second parallel was completed by the Pennsylvanians and Marylanders, under Colonel W. Stewart.

"15th. Two small batteries were opened this evening.

"16th. The enemy made a sortie, and spiked seven pieces of artillery, but were immediately repulsed, the spikes drawn, and the batteries again opened.

After this successful struggle, General Wayne was commanded to repair without delay to the aid of General Greene, who was encamped near Savannah, Georgia, in which state the enemy had been long rioting without the fear of opposition from either regulars or militia. Not, however, before the 19th of January, 1782, did he reach the Savannah river, and having crossed it with a detachment of the first and fourth regiments of dragoons, with this force, aided by a small state corps and a few spirited militia, he soon routed the enemy from some of their strongest posts. Wayne receiving intelligence of a body of Creek Indians being on their march to Savannah, detached a strong party of horse under Colonel McCoy, dressed in British uniform, in order to deceive and decoy them. This deception succeeded, and the Indians were all surrounded and taken without the least resistance.

General Wayne, in a letter to a friend, dated the 24th of February, writes, "It is now upwards of five weeks since we entered this state, during which period not an officer or soldier with me has once undressed for the purpose of changing his linen; nor do the enemy lie on beds of down--they have once or twice attempted to strike our advance parties. The day before yesterday they made a forward move in considerable force, which induced me to advance to meet them; but the lads declined the interview, by embarking in boats and retreating by water to Savannah, the only post they now hold in Georgia." This post remained in possession of the British till the month of May, when the British administration, having resolved upon abandoning all offensive operations in America, it was ordered to be evacuated. Accordingly, on the 11th of July, 1782, Savannah was delivered into the possession of General Wayne, whose time was now fully occupied in replying to the numerous applications of the merchants and citizens of that place. About the end of November, General Wayne, with the light infantry of the army, and the legionary corps, reached the vicinity of Charleston, S. C., where Greene was posted near the Ashley river, a convenient position to attack the rear of the enemy when the hour of evacuation should arrive; but a proposition from the British General, to be permitted to embark without molestation if he left the town untouched, was acceded to, and on the morning of the 14th of December, General Wayne had also the honor and satisfaction of taking peaceable possession of Charleston, thus closing his last active scene in the war of the American revolution.

General Wayne continued busily engaged at the south till the following July, when he took passage for Philadelphia in very delicate health, having contracted a fever while in Georgia.

In 1784, Wayne was elected by his native county to the General Assembly, where he took deep interest in every act which agitated the Legislature. His family estates, which had so long been inoperative, now claimed his attention; which, for the space of two years, was most assiduously devoted to them. President Washington nominated Wayne to the Senate as Commander-in-chief of the United States army--which was confirmed and accepted the 13th of April, 1792. The object of this high and honorable post being bestowed on Wayne, was to bring to a close the war with the confederated tribes of Indians, which was raging on the northwestern frontier. During the four years of Indian warfare, General Wayne suffered severely from his previous disease, living, however, to witness the termination of those troubles which had so long existed, but not to share in the happy results which his bravery and exalted wisdom had consummated. He died at Presque Isle, on the 15th of December, 1796. An able writer thus portrays the character of this exalted man:--

"The patriotism, spirit and military character of General Anthony Wayne are written on every leaf of his country's history, from the dawn of the revolution to the close of his eventful life. If you ask who obeyed the first call of America for freedom? It was Wayne! he was first on the battleground and last to retire. If you ask who gallantly led his division to victory on the right wing at the battle of Germantown? Who bore the fiercest charge at the battle of Monmouth? Who, in the hour of gloom, roused the desponding spirits of the army and nation by the glorious storming and capturing of Stony Point? It was GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE.

"In Congress, July 26th, 1779, it was resolved unanimously, that the thanks of Congress be presented to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, for his brave, prudent and soldierly conduct, in the spirited and well-conducted attack of Stony Point."

A gold medal was voted to him at the same time, of which the following is a description taken from the original in the possession of his family.

OCCASION.--Taking of Stony Point, on the North River, by storm.

DEVICE.--An Indian Queen crowned, a quiver on her back, and wearing a short apron of feathers: a mantle hangs from her waist behind: the upper end of the mantle appears as if passed through the girdle of her apron, and hangs gracefully by her left side. She is presenting, with her right hand, a wreath to General Wayne, who receives it. In her left hand, the Queen is holding up a mural crown towards the General. On her left and at her feet an alligator is stretched out. She stands on a bow: a shield, with the American stripes, rests against the alligator.

LEGEND.--Antonio Wayne Duci Exercitas comitia Americana.

REVERSE.--A fort, with two turrets, on the top of a hill: the British flag flying: troops in single or Indian file, advancing in the front and rear up the hill: numbers lying at the bottom. Troops advancing in front, at a distance, on the edge of the river: another party to the right of the fort. A piece of artillery posted on the plain, so as to bear upon the fort; ammunition on the ground: six vessels in the river.

LEGEND.--Stony Point expugnatum.

EXERGUE.--15th July, 1779.

MAJ. JOHN STEWART.

It is a singular fact that no biographical memoir can be found of this gallant officer.

In a communication soon after the close of the war, it says, that Major Stewart was killed by a fall from his horse, near Charleston, South Carolina. Should this meet the eye of any of the representatives of the late Major Stewart, the publishers of these memoirs would feel grateful for any particulars respecting that distinguished officer, as they may be added in another edition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.

OCCASION.--Taking the fort of Stony Point.

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